I have found an old horseshoe and I want to hang it above my door.?

Question

I have previously seen them both ways up, which way would you hang it and why?

Answer 1

Actually the English Folk-law way is to hang it with the bow up. The reason is that then it won't catch bad luck. If you look at any old farmhouse or old garden gate you will always see them this way up. In the past, they believed that good luck could be taken away, but bad luck was acquired!
Various talisman where employed in and around the house, including one within the fireplace to stop the devil from coming down the chimney and Walking Sticks where hung within houses, as they where believed to catch evil spirits.
My Grandfather who was Born in 1901 lived all his life with Horses and even accepted several prizes from Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother for his show Horses and Ponies.
He had an extensive collection of genuine Horse Brasses, with which he and other owners decorated their horses. If ever you see a Horse Brass in the shape of a Shoe, then it is always Bow Up and NEVER bow down.

Answer 2

Hang it up as a "U".....or it is said, that all the luck , falls out of it...if it is hung the other way up !

Why are Horseshoes Lucky?

Folks often ask me why horseshoes are considered lucky and to be honest I never even knew myself! I would like to share with you what I have learned about lucky horseshoes and why some are luckier than others.

A long time ago, on a dark and cloudless night, the Devil was making his rounds. In the small town where the Devil was causing havoc, a lone rider came galloping past. The Devil stopped what he was doing and watched in awe at the hoofs of the passing horse sparking on the cobble stones. An evil smile melted across the Devil's face with the thought he too could spark like that!

The Devil called on one of the blacksmiths in his debt and demanded the blacksmith fasion him some iron shoes. The blacksmith worked well into the night heating and pounding shoes for the Devil's hoofs while the Devil cackled with delight. When the shoes were ready, the blacksmith heated the shoes red hot and slapped them onto the Devil's hoofs. You see, the Devil's hoofs are different from those of a horse, they are just as sensitive as our feet. The Devil tried his best to withstand the pain of the heated shoes but when the blacksmith started pounding in the nails to hold the shoes in place, the Devil could take no more. "Get them off, get them off, get them off!" he screamed. When the shoes were jerked off, the Devil hobbled away shouting obsenities towards all the horses and blacksmiths of the earth. For days after while the Devil recovered from his misadventure, all was quiet, dogs didn't even chase cats. From that day forward whenever the Devil sees a horseshoe it reminds him of that sorrowful night and it makes him step quietly past. When the Devil sees a used horseshoe or a horseshoe that has been pulled from a horses hoof, he shivers with the rememberence of the pain and quickly slips into the shadows.

So you see, hanging a horseshoe over your doorway or using a horseshoe in everyday items can make the Devil think twice about bothering you, but having things made of used horseshoes can make the Devil run away without a backward glance. This is why I make things of used horseshoes, it truly is more beneficial.

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Copyright © 2006 Pokie Parmidge

Answer 3

Hang it with the open end pointing up to keep the luck from running out. Also the shape of the horseshoe hung this way represents horns that fend off danger.....

Answer 4

I have heard both before. Open end up to hold the luck and open end down for protection. So it doesn't really matter which way up you hang it. Maybe if you wanted to be receptive to luck you could hang it in the open, female position and if you wanted protection you could hang it in the closed, male position.

Answer 5

There are a number of diverse perspectives in this : a million) finally ends up, to keep the success in. 2) Ends down, to pour success over all who go by the door. 3) truly to one part, merely about like a 'C', yet with the finally ends up somewhat more effective. This became believed to guard the abode antagonistic to witchcraft. in my opinion, i don't experience the direction concerns. the different 'requirement' is that the shoe might want to were 'thrown' or discarded from the pony, and under no circumstances a newly made shoe.

Answer 6

You hang the horseshoe so that it forms a U, so that your luck won't run out. At least that's the story I know.

Answer 7

I've neard opinions either way. With the opening down would be the most common way as far as looks. They say it should be with the opening up to recieve from Spirit.
But I've learned there are no simple answers. Having it up might open your home to Spiritual benefits, but might also invite negative aspects.
Where being down might not let one recieve benefits from Spirit, but might serve as a ward to block out negative aspects?
I would think one needs to will their intent into it. What you want it to be for. But one would need to have a free flow of spiritual energy onesself.
Letting the positive and negative flow through them effortlessly. No hang ups, or fears.
No simple answers.

Answer 8

As everyone else says, ends upwards so the luck doesn't fall out. I think they are only hung the other way up when the owner is so unlucky they only have one nail on which to hang it.

Answer 9

you have to hang it open side up ,which is the oposite of what most people think ,and you need two nails one for each point

if you dont and if it hangs with the points down all your luck will run out

Answer 10

I was always taught to hang it pointing up so the magic/luck doesnt drain out of it. But other people hang it down so the luck pours onto them. To each their own.